This is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
Did you know that our Lord Jesus Christ has staked His claim on every Christian from two providential perspectives? The first is natural; the second is supernatural. Let’s take a look.
The Natural Claim of Christ
This claim is rooted in the reality that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of all things; therefore, has a rightful claim on everything in the universe, including you and me.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3)
The Supernatural Claim of Christ
This claim is rooted in the reality that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and Savior of the world, and therefore, has a rightful claim on everything He has redeemed . . . and again, that includes you and me.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Twice born makes you twice His. Even if His natural claim was not enough, surely His supernatural claim is. The “right of redemption” . . . the “claim of the cross” . . . the “buying with the blood” . . . all these forever settle any insurrection on our part. You are still in this world, to be sure, but you are no longer of this world. Your citizenship is in heaven.
Christian, you are merely a pilgrim passing through this world on your way to the Celestial City. But along the way, be still long enough to remember whose you are and the life He is calling you to live for His glory and for the good of others.
Let’s close today’s message with this wonderful quote from the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper:
There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, “Mine!”
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 